Hey James, the knees are lined with Paclite, but the rest of the pants are made of Gore-Tex Pro Shell. See the listing on Montbell's website here:
http://www.montbell.us/products/disp.php?cat_id=60&p_id=2328492

Hey Kat. Altering technical outerwear is tricky business. You need to find a truly brave tailor that is willing to tackle a down jacket. If there is a place near you that does custom down work they might be willing to touch it, but your average "Jim's Alterations" in the mall won't go anywhere near it. My advice would be to return the jacket to Backcountry and exchange it for something that fits you better. Mountain Hardwear makes a Downtown Coat that is very similar to this one that you might like, and tends to fit a bit shorter. Hope that helps.

Well Backcountry obviously doesn't have it. Try some of the other retailors listed here: http://www.mountainhardwear.com/WhereToBuy.aspx?jdeStyleId=OM3155&top=1827&cat=1870&prod=3516&isGeneric=false

Heh..."sans". Awesome.

I would try any camping store in your area, or any shop with a gear repair department. I know here we have a decent shop that does second hand gear and repairs, so you may want to see if there's something like that near you. Failing that give your local REI a call and see if they can just send you one. I think the closest one to you will be in Mass. though.

I have the Mentor as well in a medium and it does fit a little larger. I'm 2" taller than you, so it fits me well for winter activities. You're bang on when you say it's meant to allow layering. OR cuts their shells a little bigger for that very reason. If it doesn't fit, just exchange it for a small. Backcountry.com has a fantastic return/exchange policy.

Nancy that's going to happen with any down jacket, especially new ones. During construction of the jacket some of the down gets trapped, usually in seams, and eventually works its way to the surface. There really isn't anything you can do to "seal" the jacket short of covering the entire inside with duct tape. If you're just leaking a few feathers, then I wouldn't worry about it. However if you suddenly empty a baffle then it's time to head back to the store and warranty the jacket.

Hey there Ely. Welcome to the world of softshells, my favorite type of jackets. You won't be disappointed. Here are my thoughts on those three jackets.

The TNF Apex Bionic is a solid softshell. It's a no-thrills package that is windproof, water resistant and decently warm. It'll breathe fairly well, but it's boring. Every 19 year old kid in the mountains has one.

The Marmot Ultima is kind of interesting. I like the carbon from coconut fabric for natural odor protection. However I think you'll find it a little on the chilly side, especially when you're just standing around. If you're a naturally warm person though, this might be a good investment.

The Alchemy is lined with Gore Windstopper which makes it totally windproof, but also highly water resistant. The Apex Bionic is also windproof and water resistant, but the pockets are too darn low to get in when I'm wearing a harness or backpack hip belt. If you plan on wearing a pack at all I would suggest going for the Alchemy since the pockets are placed high enough to get at when your pack hip belt is doing its job. The MHW Alchemy is my favorite of the three, and that's mostly due to the pocket placement.

Also, the Alchemy will have a very athletic fit to it. The medium for you will be perfect. TNF fits a little boxier, so depending on how much room you want sizing down to the small might be a good idea. I'm the same size as you, just 10 lbs heavier, and the small Bionic fit nicely. There wasn't much room underneath, but sometimes that's okay. I'm not sure what the sizing is like on the Ultima, but I do know Marmot tends to fit rather "athletically". Therefore you should probably try a medium in that one too.

Hope that helps.

I would contact Scarpa directly Garrett. They can either find a vendor for you, or potentially sell you laces directly. Give them a call at 303.998.2895.

Nope, these boots are waterproof right out of the box.

Jon, that depends entirely on what you're using the jacket for. If I'm just walking from the house to the car, and from the car to the office, then replacing my nylon rain jacket with a Gore-Tex shell really isn't worth it. However, if I'm ski touring, ice climbing, and in heavy rain a lot then the nylon jacket is bound to get shredded where a sturdier shell (soft or hard, some softshells are pretty weatherproof these days) would stand strong.

If you can't rationalize upgrading chances are you don't need to. As long as your jackets keep you warm, dry, and safe when they need to, there's no point in blowing money on something that's newer and shinier. That is, of course, in my opinion.

Hey Joe. The Kramer itself is not overly warm I would recommend layering with it. If you like Mountain Hardwear the Monkey Man Fleece is pretty kick-ass to layer with. I have last year's model and it's super warm. Also the Nitrous Jacket is a very nice down-insulated layering piece. If you want to look outside Mountain Hardwear, there's another down piece by Outdoor Research called the Transcendent Sweater which I own and really like. I would also suggest you look at the Repoint Jacket by North Face. It's a synthetically insulated jacket which will also layer nicely. Hope that helps.

The Summits are definitely warmer. I'm actually wearing them right now and my feet are toasty.

The Summits are a much more "hardcore" mountaineering boot than the Charmoz too. If you're looking to tackle vertical ice, I would highly recommend the Summits over the Charmoz.

Yes they do. I'm wearing them right now and can see the little tab you'd pull out to fit the GSB spike in.

Hey Joe. The Kramer has a few benefits over a Gore-Tex shell. The Kramer has a bit of insulation on the upper arms and shoulders in the form of flat-back Monkey Phur. It helps to hold the warmer air on your shoulders a little bit better than a typical shell would. There is also a body-mapped micro fleece backer on the jacket which provides extra breathability under the arms but provide a little but of heat retention across the back.

Insulation aside the only other benefits the Kramer has stem from it's ski/snowboard centric design. If you're not going to use it for skiing or boarding, then there are better jackets out there. Simply put, the removable snow skirt, goggle pocket, lift pass holder, and oodles of pockets are suited best for spending a day on the hill.

I have the Kramer and a Gore-Tex shell. For skiing, the Kramer is sweet. It's my fair weather ski shell, since I find it fits a little slimmer than most ski shells. The breathability can't be beat. In my opinion MHW makes some of the most breathable proprietary alternatives to Gore-Tex. That being said, this jacket is not for activities such as ice climbing. That's where the Gore-Tex shell proves its worth. Alpine pockets, unbeatable waterproofing, super hardy face fabrics, and a fit that you can seriously layer under make my hardshell my best friend with heading outside at -25 C.

So to answer your question in short. The Kramer is better for skiing, in my opinion, than typical hardshells. However, keep it on the hill. It has a few shortcomings when adapting to other activities.

Hey BZ. This glove is not waterproof. MHW is using either Conduit or OutDry in all their waterproof gloves this winter. So unless you see either of those technologies on the glove, it isn't waterproof.

Yo Rjg. I have the black Sentinel and it has accompanied me on a few rock trips. The black isn't too bad with chalk. I would probably throw it in the wash with some Tech Wash after a weekend of climbing though since the chalk is going to gum up the breathability of the fabric. Abrasion-wise this thing is tough as nails. Mine has stood up to a year of abuse and is almost in tip-top condition. I would suggest keeping the jacket away from fires. *grumble* Lint-wise I've had no problems at all. Then again I don't have any pets either.

I would try it on Robert. It's pretty easy to guess jacket sizes, but pants are a little trickier.

Yo FNM. Icebreaker stuff used to be made in New Zealand. They got so big though that the operation out grew the manufacturing capacity in NZ, so they moved it all to China. All Icebreaker is now made in China, according to my rep.

You can actually check out the manufacturing process on the Icebreaker website. They've got a little video showing the factory it's made in, which is pretty cool. Hope that helps.

Hey there Rwuff. It's not a high pile lining like the Herculues. It's very similar to the lining in a TNF Apex Bionic; just there to keep out a bit of the cold, but not really enough to act as an insulating layer (depending on your climate).

They aren't technically "waterproof", rather "highly water resistant". Chances are they won't soak right though, but your mid-layer is likely to get damp. If you want to remain totally dry go for a full on Gore-Tex pant.

Yes! This year uses a very different fleece fabric. Last year the Monkey Man used MHW's proprietary Monkey Phur fleece. It's very soft, but mats like crazy. This year they've switched to a Polartec fabric that is much coarser (i.e. less soft) but will stand up to matting much better than last year's model. It's still warm, just not as "pettable" as the '08 model.

It's a pure shell. There is no insulation in the Ferrosi. This thing won't insulate you, but it will help to cut the wind. If you're looking for a warmer softshell check out the OR Mithril Stormshell.

Okay, here's the rule of thumb I used when selling MHW sleeping bags. If you are:
5' 6" and shorter - use a short.
5' 7" to 6' - use a regular.
taller than 6' - Use a long.

This method has yet to fail me, and I stick to it when I buy myself sleeping bags.

Hey Josh. This rain shell is indeed cut large enough to fit a midlayer underneath. The face fabric also has a nice stretch to it as well, so your movement won't be restricted when layering up.

Well, aside frome being half the price of the Stingray, the Motto is also not a Gore-Tex shell. Instead it uses Outdoor Research's own waterproof membrane called Ventia. After that we just get in to little details such as pocket placement, the ability to remove the powder skirt/hood (in the Motto), and colour.

I have quite a few OR pieces and have been very happy with them to date. I would fully recommend OR over Arc'teryx in this case simply for the money it will save you.

Hey Bev. Throw that thing in the washer with some Nikwax Down Wash and you'll be smoke scent free. Afterwards, chuck it in the dryer with some tennis balls to break up the down clumps and you'll be good as new.

Hey Justin. OR cuts their shells a little on the bigger side. I'm a medium pretty much across the board, and I have the Mentor in a medium. It's roomy enough to fit some layers underneath for sure. I would suggest buying whatever size you generally are in your jackets. Keep in mind that Backcountry also offers a 30 day satisfaction guarantee, so if it doesn't fit you have a month to exchange it for the next size up.

Hey Andrea. The pockets are not accessible whilst wearing a harness/pack, unfortunately. That being said this hoodie has enough redeeming qualities that I will heartily recommend it. It's likely my favorite garment from OR.

Mmmm...I don't think so Allen. There's no insulation on this jacket, so you'd be pretty chilly. If you're looking for a warm softshell, check out the North Face Apex Bionic Thermal.

Go for the Apex Bionic Ryan. It's easier on the wallet and fleece lined. The Cipher has no fleece, thus very little heat retaining ability. Also, the Apex Aerobic material on the Cipher will vent heat like crazy. The Bionic is made of the much thicker Apex Climate Bloc material.

Hi Amy, I just checked the tag on my Vatnajokull Fleece Jacket and it was, in fact, made in Latvia. My understanding is that 66 North Iceland garments are not made in Europe, but they are designed in Iceland. I'm quite happy with mine and would stand behind any product they make.

Oh these are my favorite questions to answer. Here goes:

Let's start with a comparison of the Alchemy and the Nemesis. Overall, the Alchemy is a heavier, thus warmer, jacket vs the Nemesis. Furthermore the biggest, most important difference is how these jackets stack up against the wind. The Alchemy jacket is windproof due to the inclusion of a Gore Windstopper laminate. The Nemesis is not windproof, only wind resistant. Lastly, the Alchemy has alpine style pocket on it which will allow you access to them when wearing a pack, harness, whatever.

Which one is better depends on what you'll be using them for. For me, the Alchemy is a better jacket since I tend to avoid aerobic activities in favour of alpine slogs through nasty weather (i.e. bone chilling wind). You also mention you like a stiffer face fabric; the Nemesis is a much softer, and stretchier fabric than the Alchemy jacket. They are both covered by MHW's lifetime warranty, so you don't really need to worry about defective products.

Now then, let's compare the Alchemy (since I feel it to be the better jacket) and the Apex Bionic. These jackets are very similar. Both are windproof, both are sofshells, both are fleece lined. However the Alchemy is more expensive since it uses licensed technology (that being the Gore Windstopper). Again, in my opinion, the Apex Bionic is the better jacket for all round and city use but that's soley based on the price. If you're going to throw on your hiking books and scramble up somthing this weekend, then I would suggest the Alchemy. It'll stand up better to abuse and it has the higher set pockets. Those pockets really seal the deal for me since I spend a lot of my time outdoors in a harness.

One further note, if you haven't looked at the Outdoor Research Mithril Softshell, do that too. It's water/wind proof, has a hood, and is a fair stiff/beefy face fabric. I like it a lot, except the pocket placement.

Hey Eman. I've tried out both the Crag Mountain II and the Ascender. In my opinion the Crag Mountain is far and beyond a better jacket. It cuts wind, sheds water, and fits much better than the Ascender jacket. I would whole heartedly recommend the Crag Mountain over the Ascender. If you're looking for something even beefier, check out the Columbia Ice Ax II Softshell.

Yeah, that's the only difference Matt. TNF hasn't touched this jacket much in the last couple years. It's done so well for them that all they need to do now is change the colour of the zipper pulls every season.

I found the Talus pants surprisingly unstretchy. I would suggest the North Face pants, I have a pair, and they are incredibly comfortable.

Those are some pretty brutal conditions you're looking at DWJ. I'd look at something a little more hearty than the Trio jacket. Personally, I prefer to layer my jackets for my mountain excursions. Usually I'll put a light fleece under my OR Transcendent Sweater (down insulated) and then my OR Mentor Jacket (Gore-Tex) on top. I would suggest going that route as the insultion on most 3 in 1 jackets is "medium warmth" at best.

I would favour the Leadville Jsung. It's cut as a running jacket, and the Apex Bionic is not. Whilst I like the TNF jacket as a generalist, the Leadville is really designed as a running jacket. Since that's what it sounds like you'll be using it for, I would suggest buying the tool designed for the job. The Leadville won't be as warm as the Bionic, so you might need a decent base layer (see: Icebreaker) to put underneath it.

Hey Nicolas. North Face has a pretty standard "box" fit to their core clothing line. You'll find their Summit and Flight Series have more athletic fits. Since this jacket does not belong to the Summit or Flight Series, I would say it has a pretty standard, perhaps "relaxed" even, fit to it. Also, I have no idea what an "authentic" fit is, so I suppose it could be that too.

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. Can TNF please just put a hood on the Valhalla jacket? I would buy that thing in a heartbeat if had a helmet compatable hood.

Hi Nicolas,

The material certainly is a softshell. It's a lightweight softshell meant to protect you from light rain and moderate winds. Since there is no liner in the jacket the material will be very stretchy. I quite like Mountain Hardwear's softshell fabric and think you'll be quite happy with this jacket.

Nay, there is no powder skirt.

Hey kbuzz. I've tried this bad boy on and the hood is a little small for use with a helmet. You'd be better off cramming the hood under your helmet.

There is no powder skirt, and I found the jacket to be cut a little on the short side. It's a fantastic jacket, but it sounds to me like you're looking for a ski shell. This isn't really designed for skiing. Check out the MHW Kramer too. It's rad.

Nope, not even close. The Cornice uses a Gore-Tex shell whilst the Alti Mitt uses a Ventia (sill waterproof) shell. There are also cosmetic difference in the way the wrist cinches down and the like.

Adm this is the jacket you've been looking for. The entire face fabric is 70D ripstop nylon that can be dragged across rocks, trees, and probably hot pokers without a problem. It's guaranteed waterproof by Gore-Tex and backed up by a lifetime warranty from OR. The Paclite and Pro shells are both wonderfully breathable. I have nothing bad to say about this jacket. If I didn't already have a shell, I promise you I'd have one in my closet.

Nope, no zip in compatibility here I'm afraid. This is just a straight up shell jacket that's meant to sit on top of your fleece.

Hi Jsung. The Conduit laminate is windproof as well as waterproof. This jacket will keep you dry and super warm. Actually, now that I'm looking at it this is a damn cool jacket. Hmmm...Christmas is coming...

Jules, you can wear whatever shell you want on top of this. If you're doing something active and you don't require total storm protection, then grab a nice softshell to layer over top. If you want to stick with Marmot, I'm a big fan of the Kingpin jacket. If you're looking for a higher degree of weatherproofing, then pick up a nice hardshell. Anything with Gore-Tex in it will keep you dry and cut the wind. It all depends on what you plan to do whilst wearing this fleece.

The two jackets are also made of different materials. The Pneumatic is made of Apex Aerobic which is a very light weight and breathable softshell. It's air permeable so it will be wind resistant. The Apex Bionic is made of Apex ClimateBlock. It's a much heavier softshell material that is rated to 0 CFM for air permeability. This means it is essentially windproof.

The Nimble and the Pneumatic are essentially the same thing. They are both made of Apex Aerobic softshell with a DWR coating. I'm a fan of pockets, so I'd go for the Pneumatic myself.

Also, I'm the same height as you, but about 8 pounds heavier and I fit a small fairly well. TNF tends to have a rather boxy cut in their standard line of clothing, so I'd suggest you take a small as well.

Hey Anon. Check out the Transcendent Sweater by Outdoor Research, the Nitrous Jacket by Mountain Hardwear or the Patagonia Down Sweater. You'll likely find the Outdoor Research or Patagonia jacket fits the longest and MHW tends to cut puffy jackets short to fit above a climbing harness.

Hi mhare. This boot works well as a stiff hiking boot suitable for multi-day excursions with a heavy pack. Yes, it has a full nylon shank, but it won't take clip-on crampons that you need for highly technical terrain. If you're looking for something to take you vertically (i.e. ice climbing) check out a true mountaineering boot by Scarpa or La Sportiva.

By "skying" I'm going to assume you mean "skiing". The answer is yes, this will work well for skiing in Vermont. It does have some measure of insulation, but I would use it more as a moderate/fair weather ski shell. If you layered up underneather with some down insulation it might even hold out in the -10 F temperature ranges.

Hi Juls. The back of the jacket is not waterproof. It's meant to act more like a vent for heat and perspiration. If you're looking for a completely waterproof jacket try the North Face Venture jacket.

Hey STE. This jacket uses a porous membrane, like Windstopper. However, unlike Windstopper, the membrane itself is waterproof. It's called Ventia and it is Outdoor Research's proprietary waterproof technology. There is also a DWR coating on the shell.

It's pretty unlikely that you'll be able to zip in your Monkey Man, Pat. Generally speaking different manufacturers use slightly different zippers just to avoid that situation. Last I checked Mountain Hardwear wasn't into making zip-in compatible coats, but that may change with their new Fall lineup. Keep an eye out.

Nathan, I'm inclined to disagree with you on the point of the TNF jacket. Neither the Gamma LT, nor the Shift are windproof jackets. Perhaps I'm just a sucker for all things windproof (I'm wearing a Windstopper jacket as I type this), but I would buy the Apex Bionic before the Gamma LT or the Shift.

The Apex Bionic is made of Apex ClimateBlock which is rated at 0 CFM, thus it is windproof. Furthermore the Shift is horrendously expensive for a standard softshell. While I appreciate the fact that Backcountry is employing my countrymen by manufacturing the jacket in Canada, it's simply over-priced in my opinion. Likewise the Gamma LT is pricey, and still air-permeable.

While the North Face brand lacks the "hardcore" and "shiny" aspects that Arc'teryx and Backcountry carry, they still make a few solid pieces. The Apex Bionic is no exception, as it remains the standard to which other softshells are compared.

Hey Jay. There is no difference. It's all made of the same 200 weight traditional fleece. The "Charcoal Heather Grey" and "Charcoal Heather Grey/Charcoal Heather Grey" jacket even use the same photo. Regardless of which black configuration you buy, you'll get a black fleece jacket.

Hi Maha. You Manitobians are crazy. Here in Alberta it only gets to -40. You should join us for a balmy weekend in January some time.

The truth is that few jackets will keep you comfortable at -50, but lots of jackets will keep you alive. This one will definitely do the latter. With proper layering under the jacket and on your legs, you might even be able to shovel the driveway with this baby on. It is one of the warmest jackets TNF makes. My brother has the men's version and loves it. It kept him relatively warm when winter camping at -34.

The belt and hood are not removable, by the way.

Hey Nate. The Tau is cut slightly differently from the Accomplice. This has a more athletic (see: tighter) cut to act as a mid-layer. The Accomplice has a boxier cut to accommodate insulating layers underneath.

Both will serve well as a wind resistant mid-layer. I would also recommend the Vatnajokull fleece by 66 North Iceland. I just picked one up and love the thing. It's virtually wind proof, super warm, and cheaper than the Arc'teryx stuff (because it's on sale right now). Check it out: http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/outlet/SNI0123/66-North-Iceland-Vatnajokull-Jacket-Mens.html

For sure Mark. Nikwax and Grangers both make wash-in water repellancy for technical clothing. I would recommend Nikwax Softshell Proof. I just used it on my MHW Dragon jacket and it worked like a charm.

Hi Jeremy. You'll find this thing pretty warm near the 70F mark, but from 50F to 65F you should be fine. It'll also depend on what you wear underneath. If you decide the fleece liner feels really nice against your bare flesh, you may opt to go shirtless under the Sentinel which would allow you to wear it in warmer climes. It also depends on what you're doing. If the Super Bowl is on and you're chilly in your house, then this will keep you warm if it's 70F outside. But if the mercury hits 70 and you want to go run a marathon, this will likely be too warm. This jacket is awesome. Buy, use it, love it. Regardless of the temperature.

See Nick Bose's answer to the questions titled "How warm is it???" below.

It's usually part of the Fall/Winter line-up from Mountain Hardwear, but I just checked the Fall '09 stuff and don't see it on the list. It appears as though it will be discontinued I'm afraid.

The biggest difference is the country of origin. This jacket comes from China and the Shift originates in Canada. Still, I would agree with Cyrus. This jacket is sweet and differences are not worth $100.

Hi Mike. I tried this jacket on a little while ago and it fits very slim. Through the body there was just enough room to get a base and mid layer. I did find the sleeves a little long, so depending on how "tall and lanky" you are they may fit you quite well. Just be aware that Norrona jackets tend to fit snugger through the shoulders and body.

Hey Nan. First off, try using the live chat to get a real-time answer from the Backcountry staff. They are very knowledgable and can probably help you out.

Secondly, this might interest you: http://www.backcountry.com/store/MHW1168/Mountain-Hardwear-Wicked-Lite-T-Shirt-Long-Sleeve-Mens.html

Hey Jpark. Use the "Chat Now" button in the upper right corner of the window to talk to a Backcountry employee. They will be able to answer questions regarding stock much faster than by posting it here.

Hey Brandon,

The black and grey ones should be dark enough for single layer casual wear. I've got the grey one and I wouldn't call it translucent. The white-ish one (Bone I think) may prove to be problematic for you though. Go for a darker colour if you're concerned.

Hi Matt,

I was talking to my Mountain Hardwear Rep a couple weeks ago about this jacket. According to him the Terra Jacket is actually MORE breathable than a Pro-Shell. Long term, the Pro Shell will be more waterproof though. Apparently the Terra fabric is the first proprietary waterproof/breathable that is more breathable than Gore-Tex. Hope that helps.

Most any Summit Series piece from North Face is on the slimmer side. As far as softshells go this one isn't skin tight, but it won't accomodate a lot of bulk underneath unless you size up. I would say it's more of an athletic fit.

Hey Josh. I poked around and couldn't find the weight of the shirt, even on Columbia's website. I would, however, suggest avoiding synthetic shirts unless you're going to have the opportunity to wash them. They will get smelly really fast. Might I suggest something made of Merino wool instead? Icebreaker in particular makes fantastic shirts that won't smell nearly as bad and are super light. Check 'em out.

It's neither. The difference is age. BodyFit used to be called Skin. So the Skin clothing is just a little older. They fit, feel, and function the same though.

Indeed. The number refers to the weight of the fabric in grams/meter². So a square meter of Bodyfit200 weighs 200 grams. Likewise the Bodyfit260 would weigh 260 grams. Basically the higher the number the heavier (i.e. warmer) the wool will be.

Why hello me. I would first like to thank those that tried to answer my question. However, since none of them actually own the tent in question, I will now answer my own question.

Yes, this is actually a two man tent. It is set up in my kitchen right now and it's easily the biggest two man tent I've ever seen. It can accomodate two Exped DownMat 7s with room to spare. There are plenty of pockets for gadgets and reading material. Once I have slept in it a few times outside my kitchen I'll throw up a review for it.

Hope that helps. Thank me.

Hey Jonathan. I would suggest either setting your jacket on fire and getting a new one, or washing it with Nikwax Tech Wash. Granted, I haven't actually tried Tech Wash to get gasoline fumes out of my jackets, so I cannot gaurantee success. It's worth a shot though.

Without having done a direct comparison (i.e. trying both on) I would say the Thunder. In my experience Primaloft (in the Red Point) is great stuff but cannot stand up to 800-fill down (in the Thunder). I have tried on the Red Point, and it was fairly warm. However I've tried on the OR version of the Thunder and it was fantastic even with a lower lofting down (650+). Go for the Thunder, you won't regret it.

Hey Adam,

I can't see any Velcro in the photos I'm afraid. However, every single jacket I've seen with Velcro on the hood has two strips of Velcro. One is usually on the outside of the hood located near the seam that joins the hood to the jacket. The other is likely inside the hood also near the jacket/hood seam. This allows one to roll the hood up and stow it in order to avoid having "floppy hood syndrom" whilst on the trail. Hope that helps.

Hey Brad,

I'm not sure which stripe or storm flaps you're referring to. Storm flaps traditionally cover the front zipper, and this jacket lacks those particular flaps. The only red I see on the grey jacket is from the zipper pulls and the inside lining of the cuffs. Does that help at all?

The Denali is actually a 300 weight fleece, but this is lighter than that. It'll be closer to the Khumbu Jacket by North Face.

Yes. Norrona is sized small compared to North American sizings. I would suggest you buy a size up (large in this case) when ordering Norrona products.

Any heavy fleece jacket or down sweater will work just fine. Might I recommend The North Face Denali Jacket, The North Face Thunder Jacket, Mountain Hardwear Monkey Man Jacket, Outdoor Research Transcendent Sweater, and the Mountain Hardwear Nitrous Jacket.

According to the Marmot website, this does indeed use the MemBrain Strata fabric.

This is the Fall/Winter '08 model. That's why it's on sale.